Significant Influence of Minor SiCp on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Pure Mg

SiCp/Mg composites, where a minor amount of SiCp was added to the pure Mg, were fabricated in this work to eliminate the influence of precipitates and determine the effect of the particle deformation zone on the microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of the Mg matrix. The results show that the dynamically recrystallized ratio in the SiCp/Mg composite obviously improved because SiCp promoted the nucleation of DRX. Compared with those of the pure Mg, the SiCp/Mg composite had finer grain sizes and weaker basal textures. Even when only 1 vol.% SiCp was added to the pure Mg, the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation of pure Mg could be increased to 247.3 MPa, 260.36 MPa and 6.85%, respectively. Such high strength of the SiCp/Mg composite might attribute to the fine grain size as well as nano-MgO precipitates after the addition of a minor amount of SiCp.